South Region Transmission Planning Group Proposes New Projects Totaling $339 Million

Three new transmission projects totaling $339 million were presented for review at a South Region Planning Group open meeting in Taylor Sept. 15:

• Project:  Elm Creek 345 kV switch station
  Projected Cost:  $12 million
  Who:  City Public Service (CPS)
  Expected in Service:  2006/07
  Purpose:  Reduce constraints between San Antonio and Austin
  
• Project:  Clear Springs-Salado 345kV line (71 miles, double circuit)
  Projected Cost:  $141 million
  Who:  Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), Austin Energy and TXU Electric Delivery
  Expected in Service: 2010
  Purpose:  Reduce constraints from San Antonio to Austin to Killeen/Temple; maintain reliable service to customers in Central Texas area; provide an additional transmission path out of the Rio Nogales Power Project and Guadalupe Power Partners plant
  
• Project:  South Texas Project-WA Parish 345kV line (40 miles, single/double circuit)
  Projected Cost:  $186 million
  Who:  CenterPoint
  Expected in Service: 2007
  Purpose:  Reduce constraints from the south zone to Houston; maintain reliable service to customers in Houston area

Written proposals for the Elm Creek and South Texas projects have been submitted to the regional planning group, and the Clear Springs-Salado written proposal is anticipated soon.  After review by the regional planning group and an independent review by ERCOT staff, the proposals are sent to the Technical Advisory Committee, and then to the ERCOT Board of Directors for a recommendation.

Also at last week’s meeting, a status report was provided on the Cagnon-Kendall 345 kV line (63 miles, single circuit) located on the west to northwest side of San Antonio. This line will help reduce constraints between Austin and San Antonio, maintain reliable service to customers north/northwest of San Antonio and provide an additional transmission path out of Hays Energy Center for a projected cost of about $42 million dollars.  This project was originally recommended by the ERCOT board in 2002.  CPS of San Antonio and LCRA are jointly constructing the project with an expected in-service date of 2006.

The South Region Planning Group consists of ERCOT staff, stakeholders, consumer representatives and Public Utility Commission (PUC) staff.  The ERCOT system planning department leads and supervises three regional planning groups (north, south, and west). The groups are responsible for the development, consideration and review of proposed projects created to maintain reliability, reduce constraints and interconnect generation.

* For more information, contact Ken Donohoo at x3003.

Sunset Commission Recommends Increasing Unaffiliated Members on ERCOT Board

The Texas Sunset Commission voted Sept. 15 to recommend increasing the number of unaffiliated members on the ERCOT Board of Directors from three to five and to rotate chairmanship of the board among the unaffiliated members.  The recommendation, which will help guide the 2005 Texas Legislature’s consideration of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and ERCOT, would bring the total size of the board to 16 (15 voting), including: six stakeholder segment members, three consumer segment members, the ERCOT CEO, the PUC chair (ex-officio non-voting), plus the five unaffiliated members.

The Sunset Commission also recommends more explicit conflict of interest guidelines for ERCOT board members, a more detailed description in the law of ERCOT’s information reporting requirements to the PUC, and an expanded role for ERCOT in market monitoring.  The Sunset report will also recommend a six-year reauthorization review of the PUC, instead of the customary 12 years, and will recommend extending the existence of the Office of Public Utility Counsel, also for six years.

The Sunset Commission’s actions will help determine the shape of PUC reauthorization legislation in the 2005 session, which runs from January through May.

* For more information, contact Mark Walker at x7076.

TNT Facilitator to Testify at House Subcommittee Friday

Texas Nodal Team independent facilitator Trip Doggett will testify Friday, Sept. 24, before a House subcommittee investigating economic dispatch of electricity resources.  The special subcommittee of the House Regulated Industries committee is headed by Rep. Todd Baxter, R-Austin.  Also representing ERCOT at the hearing will be Chief Operating Office Sam Jones, Director of Market Operations Jim Galvin, and TNT independent facilitator Vikki Gates-Cuddy.

* For more information, contact Mark Walker at x7076.

ERCOT CEO Keynote Speaker at Gulf Coast Power Association Thursday

ERCOT CEO Tom Schrader will be keynote speaker at the monthly luncheon of the Gulf Coast Power Association in Houston on Thursday, Sept. 23.  Also that day, Schrader will meet with Houston-area stakeholders at an informal “meet & greet” breakfast.

* For more information, contact Paul Wattles at x7242.

ERCOT Meetings

• Tuesday, September 21, 2004 – ERCOT Board of Directors – ERCOT Austin 206 – 10:00am – 4:00pm
• Wednesday, September 22, 2004 – TNT Cost Benefit – ERCOT Austin 206 – 9:30am – 3:30pm
• Wednesday, September 22, 2004- ERCOT staff Lunch ‘n Learn, KC Hall, Taylor 11:30am-1:00pm
• Thursday, September 23, 2004 – WMS –ERCOT Austin 206 – 9:30am – 4:00pm
• Friday, September 24, 2004 – PRS – ERCOT Austin 206 – 9:30am – 3:30pm

ERCOT at a Glance is an electronic summary of the timely and topical events going on within the organization. ERCOT at a Glance will update employees on the newsworthy and noteworthy events and accomplishments related to the business of ERCOT. We are seeking milestones, accomplishments and everyday news. If you’ve got important stories or information to share with us, please provide us with your news in electronic summary format, after first coordinating with the managers and directors in your area. We welcome your summaries (due by 5 p.m. on Thursday of each week) and look forward to hearing from you. If you have questions, please contact Heather Tindall at 512-225-7023 or htindall@ercot.com.